Photograph
courtesy
Division
ofMilitary
Aeronautics
EXPLOSION OF A HYDROGEN BALLOON, FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA: SUCH AN ACCIDENT WOULD
HAVE
BEEN
IMPOSSIBLE
HAD
THE
GIGANTIC BAG BEEN FILLED WITH NON-INFLAMMABLE HELIUM
In peace as well as in war any one of a score of mishaps can cause such a catastrophe, so long ashydrogen
isused
asthe
buoyant
gas
for
dirigibles. A defective electrical connection, a spark from the wireless apparatus, a stroke of lightning,oran
incendiary
bullet
intime
ofwar
are
some of the agencies of destruction.